Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Elections

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to support the use of Bonn Powers by the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina in relation to (1) election law, and (2) the Constitution of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina; and in any such plans, what consideration they are giving to the risk of denial of rights of representation in the House of Peoples for ethnic minorities in the cantons in that country.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The delicate balance of power sharing in Bosnia and Herzegovina is set out in the Dayton Peace Agreement and other documents. These afford certain protections to the three Constituent Peoples and 'Others'. However, misuse of these mechanisms is preventing functional government and blocking progress. There has been no domestic agreement on electoral and constitutional reform despite US and EU facilitated talks. With this in mind and aware of the need for a functional Federation, the UK strongly supports the High Representative and the use of his executive powers should the situation require it.

Department of Health and Social Care

Respiratory System: Infectious Diseases

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken, if any, to introduce rapid PCR testing for (1) influenza, and (2)other respiratory conditions, ahead of the winter.

Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist: Diagnostic testing by polymerase chain reaction tests for respiratory viruses is currently used by National Health Service trusts based on clinical and infection prevention and control needs. In addition, some trusts may use rapid near patient tests based on similar technologies.

Meat Products: Nitrates

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take, if any, to ban the use of nitrates in the preservation of processed foods and meats.

Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) works with the food industry to ensure that nitrites and nitrates are used at the lowest possible levels to achieve the intended technological function, without jeopardising the safety of food. Maximum legal limits for nitrates have been determined based on scientific evaluation and are monitored through risk-based compliance checks. There are no plans to ban the use of nitrates in the preservation of processed foods and meats. The FSA will seek independent scientific advice whenever new credible scientific studies on this issue emerges. It will consider this information with the existing body of evidence and consider if any further action on authorised food additives is necessary.

Cancer: Children

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the study in PLOS Medicine, Cancer in children born after frozen-thawed embryo transfer: A cohort study, published on 1 September, which reported an increase in the cancer incidence in children born as a result of frozen-thawed embryo transfer; and what steps they are taking to facilitate a follow up to that study by means of controlled comparisons with larger samples.

Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that the findings in the PLOS Medicine study should be interpreted with caution, as the number of children born after frozen-thawed embryo transfer in the study who later developed cancer, was very low; 30.1 in 100,000 births.The HFEA’s expert Scientific and Clinical Advances Advisory Committee monitors new studies relating to assisted reproductive technologies, including any impact on children born from treatments. This can lead the HFEA to recommend new information for patients regarding the risks of any treatment.

Meat Products: Nitrates

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of nitrates in the preservation of processed meats.

Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) considers that nitrates and nitrites are important preservatives which protect consumers by hindering the growth of harmful organisms, such as Clostridium botulinum, which is responsible for botulism.This is supported by the independent scientific committees which advise the FSA and other organisations such as the European Food Safety Authority, which have previously reviewed the effectiveness of nitrates or nitrites in processed meat and its safety.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Water Companies

Lord Goddard of Stockport: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with (1) Ofwat, and (2) the Environment Agency, in 2022 about (a) leakages of potable water, (b) sewage discharge into rivers and seas, (c) shareholder dividends, (d) executive bonuses, and (e) gearing of balance sheets, by water companies; and what steps they took, if any, as a result of those discussions.

Lord Benyon: Officials regularly discuss with Ofwat and the Environment Agency a number of issues across the water sectors covering all of the subjects in your questions and more. As a result a number of steps have been taking, for example, launching the Storm Overflow Plan [ Storm overflows discharge reduction plan - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)], the consultation on introducing mandatory water efficiency labels [ UK mandatory water efficiency labelling - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)] and the Ofwat's consultation on dividends and company performance [ Consultation on proposed modifications to strengthen the ring-fencing licence conditions of the largest undertakers]. Copies of these documents are attached to this answer.Storm overflows reduction plan (pdf, 644.1KB)Water efficiency labelling consultation (pdf, 313.6KB)Financial resilience consultation (pdf, 996.1KB)